PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST

KATIE HARRIS, SCHOOL NURSE

I began my career as a nursery nurse, but nursing is in my family and my blood, so I trained and worked as a district nurse. I loved being in the community and the rapport you have with families; but this role fulfils both my passions –children and nursing.

The innocence of children’s minds makes me smile. Listening to their views, hearing their stories, finding out what they need from you, is a privilege.

They’re our next generation, it’s up to us to give them support systems that will help them become resilient. If I can be part of building a child’s confidence and help make them happier, that’s a reward in itself.

We work closely with our families, so we get to know them well. Watching a family in a crisis, hitting rock bottom and having safeguarding concerns, is hard to see. But helping them make the changes needed for their children to be safe and happy, then being able to pull back, knowing they don’t need our help anymore, is the best feeling.

Families can be wary when we step in, so it’s lovely when they say, ‘you were right, we needed help and we’re a better family for it’. I tell families no one is a perfect parent –I’m certainly not. We all need a bit of help sometimes.

I love it when children are genuinely excited to see us in school. I’m now applying to be a specialist public health nurse. I’ve come full circle and I’m staying.

For More Information

about school nurses visit: merseycare.nhs.uk then search School Nurses.